DA DEGREEGATE
Fact-checking Natasha Mazzone’s qualifications claims
In the aftermath of the exposure of DA Western Cape leader Bonginkosi Madikizela claiming a BCom degree he had not earned, questions have been asked about the party’s chief whip. Natasha Mazzone says she has been open about not finishing her law degree — but says that she did do legal articles.
Has the DA’s Chief Whip, Natasha Mazzone, been dishonest about her educational background? In particular, has Mazzone claimed to hold a law qualification that she actually never completed?
This was the question that began to circulate both within the party and on social media following the publication of a Daily Maverick article on 13 April revealing that the party’s Western Cape leader, Bonginkosi Madikizela, was publicly claiming a BCom degree he had not actually earned.
Mazzone is not the only DA figure facing this kind of accusation in the aftermath of the Madikizela scandal. Questions have also been asked of the DA’s Saldanha Bay Mayor Marius Koen and Western Cape MEC for Human Settlements Tertuis Simmers, with Koen under investigation by the party.
What drew suspicion to Mazzone initially was the apparent editing of her Wikipedia page — after the Madikizela news broke — to remove a reference to her being an “advocate” by training. This was publicised by the Good party’s Brett Herron as evidence of suspicious behaviour.
As others pointed out, however, this could hardly be viewed as a “smoking gun”, given that Wikipedia entries may be written and edited by anyone. (Indeed, for this reason, Daily Maverick did not cite Madikizela’s Wikipedia entry as proof of his qualifications deception in our article on the subject, even though his Wikipedia page also awarded him a BCom he did not have.)
Herron has continued to beat the drum with regard to Mazzone’s qualifications, suggesting that the chief whip should be suspended, like Madikizela. Mazzone has not had disciplinary action taken against her, Herron and others have suggested, due to the fact that she is an ally of DA leader John Steenhuisen and/or because she is white.
Under attack on Twitter, Mazzone proceeded to give further details about her educational background, which had the opposite effect to that intended. Rather than convincing the sceptics, Mazzone’s additional information caused disbelief and confusion: primarily, her claim that she had completed her legal articles without having completed a law degree.
This claim struck many as outlandish.
Daily Maverick contacted Mazzone to ask for evidence of her claims, which we received within an hour.
Fact: Mazzone wrote matric at The Glen High School, Pretoria, in 1996
Mazzone sent a testimonial written by former Glen headmaster A Wilcocks on 12 November 1996, which confirms that Mazzone had been a pupil of the school since January 1992 “and is presently writing the Gauteng Senior Certificate examination”. It also includes details of Mazzone’s high school activities.
Fact: Mazzone passed matric with university exemption
This detail is printed on Mazzone’s academic transcript from Unisa, which Daily Maverick has seen.
Fact: Mazzone was enrolled at the University of Pretoria from 1997 to 2001
It is unclear how much progress Mazzone made towards a degree during this five-year period. But another testimonial — this one from Tuks Dean of Students Professor Flip van der Watt — makes it evident that she was extremely active in student politics during this time, including serving as the speaker of the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) from 2000-2001.
Mazzone did not complete her degree at the University of Pretoria, for reasons she did not disclose to Daily Maverick.
Fact: After leaving the University of Pretoria, Mazzone enrolled at Unisa in 2002
Daily Maverick has seen Mazzone’s transcript from Unisa, which shows that she began taking courses towards a Bachelor of Laws in September 2002. She took further courses in 2003, 2007, and 2010, but did not receive sufficient credits to receive her law degree. The transcript states: “The above qualification has not been completed.”
Fact: Mazzone did her legal articles between 2002 and 2007
Daily Maverick received documentation proving that Mazzone — who at that stage was going by her first married surname, Michael — undertook legal articles between 2002 and 2007 under Victor Williams at Hahn & Hahn Attorneys. The documentation notes that she completed her articles in accordance with Section 5(3) of the Attorneys Act, which specified that a candidate could complete articles in five years if they were still studying towards a Bachelor of Laws.
Daily Maverick has confirmed with two legal practitioners that it would indeed have been possible in 2002 to do one’s articles without yet having a law degree.
Fact: Mazzone completed a practical legal training course through LEAD
Mazzone sent her certificate from training organisation LEAD (Legal Education & Development), which shows that she “attended and completed a practical legal training course” over 25 days in 2004.
Summary: Mazzone’s Twitter claims were accurate
In other words, the claims Mazzone made on Twitter as to her educational background when challenged were correct.
This does not, of course, speak to the question of how Mazzone presented herself within the DA in terms of her qualifications.
Daily Maverick dug up a number of old newspaper profiles of Mazzone during her early days in the DA, where she was described as being in the course of studying for a law degree. This was accurate at the time: Mazzone was indeed studying law through Unisa until May 2010, when her efforts in that regard seem to have ceased.
Daily Maverick was unable to find a verifiable example of an official document or media feature in which Mazzone is stated to have earned a law degree. Indeed, there are numerous instances in which Mazzone has referred to herself wryly as a “matriculant” or “university dropout”.
Mazzone also sent Daily Maverick a clip from a 1 July 2018 TV interview about the party’s federal legal commission in which she can be seen saying: “Now, I’m not a lawyer, and I don’t claim to be.”
It has also been suggested that Mazzone is not eligible to serve on the DA’s Federal Legal Commission due to the fact that she did not complete her legal qualification.
The DA constitution, however, states that the Federal Legal Commission should consist of “up to 60 members” of whom at least 30 must be legally qualified and a further 10 should be accredited mediators. In other words, it is acceptable for 20 members of the commission to be laypersons if a further 40 have the necessary legal backgrounds.
Conclusion: Daily Maverick has yet to see evidence that Natasha Mazzone has been officially misrepresenting her academic background. DM
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Well done DM for actually doing the legwork…… those clowns at News 24 could learn a thing or two
Yes, excellent reporting.
Fully agree, at last a news organisation that reports facts.
Right!
I have a high regard for Mazzone as a politician. But unfortunately this article highlight a common truth. Our country are being lead by a bunch of under-qualified loud mouths. The louder you scream, the better the chance you will be heard, despite not having the mental capability
Bill Gates and Elon Musk might beg to differ.
Although Donald Trump is a good example of screaming loudly whilst being mentally deficient….in my opinion! Lol!
And the heads of some otherSA political parties – talk about mental deficiencies!
So if you have a high regard for her as a politician her academic qualifications are irrelevant. I have a Masters without going to university, but I would not make a good politician.
A master mariner is a licensed mariner who holds the highest grade of seafarer qualification; namely, an unlimited master’s license.
Right! A deep-sea truck driver!
The only qualification you need to be at the top at the DA is a demonstrable willingness to further white supremacy.
Complete and utter BS…
Your Good colours are showing.
Does the Good Party even still exist? What on earth do they even do all day? I cannot think of a bunch of more useless clowns, not even the ANC, at least they pretend to do something.
Good Party are supported by the ANC to gripe about the DA. ANC proxies! What is the name of their leader? I forgot.
Typical fallback reaction from a racist ….
All stupid politicians that scream loudly are racists…..again in my opinion! A clear thinking, honest, moral politician is hard to find these days. Generally human behavior is generally disappointing because we are, after all, only human!
Said like a true stone mason!
?
yawn.
I had to have a laugh at the “triggered” responses from the tribe you attacked there
… sounds like a Red Herring..
As opposed to Black supremacy ala the ANC – no qualifications needed – take our former president – other than a masters degree from the university of life on how to sew racial disharmony and how to play the role of victim he has no formal qualification. Hard for you to comment on black racialism?
It was apparent after ANC members lying about their qualification that the DA should have had a quality committee to check all their office bearer qualifications to prevent bounce back which the ANC uses to deflect attention to very serious issues which are always going on. DA get your internal quality assurance sorted out.
Brett, get a job.
Ha ha – there is living proof that it’s possible to be good, bad and ugly 🙂
I admire Natasha. She is a fighter – with perfectly manicured nails. And brings a bit of glamour to the pityful state of politics in our country.
Right! Herron has got himself a headache from now well into the future! He! He!
Mazzone survived proper scrutiny. Congrats. Is it asking too much from the DA to now maintain the moral highground whilst simultaneously intensifying efforts for the greater good of all?
This is an obvious effort by the “Good” Mr Herron to stir before the local government elections. The obvious difference between Ms Mazzone and Mr Madikizela is the latter claimed to have a degree that he did not in fact have, where as Ms Mazzone did not.
Maybe an apology from Brett Herron is appropriate here …. Seems like the Good Party is not as good as they say with facts.
The Good Party are ANC proxies.
This was just a smear campaign by Bret Herron, and so many people already came to the wrong conclusion before having any facts. I wonder if these people have the same diligence and outrage with other political parties considerably worse shenanigans…
Viva DM, fact checking par eccelance! PS: Rebecca Davis, please write one of your juicy articles on the duplicity of Brett Herron and just how little the Good Party digs on the ANC. I believe Herron and the Good party are ANC proxies. Cheers!
Herron is just sour the DA doesn’t want him.
He has nowhere left to go.
Good journalism. Let’s hope this is the end of Herron’s red herring.
Rebecca, I have hitherto regarded you as a passionate anti-DA journalist. Maybe you are so but I admire your honesty and integrity displayed in this article – qualities that are in scarce supply these days.
Well done again DM. It sounded cooked up to start with. Dipstick with a herring yeah
Pity the heading for the article did not say upfront that she told the truth at all times. Hope Mr Herron apologises for his insinuations.
I’m left wondering if Covid ate the moderators’ keyboards. You’d think the majority of commenters here fornicated with the next one’s partner; and Apartheid apologists are writing like they talk to their buddies at braais on others. Most not commenting on the actual article. DM?
Dhasagan, not sure what article or responses you are referring to – parallel universe maybe?
Why cant i post my comments. The post box disappears after a certain amount of characters. It’s infuriating. Please do something about it. Thank you.